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This is interesting at a meta-level. It's ultimately content marketing for a16z. If Chris Dixon wrote this same article—e.g. "Here are all of the best things I
by tyre 8y ago
This is interesting at a meta-level.
It's ultimately content marketing for a16z. If Chris Dixon wrote this same article—e.g. "Here are all of the best things I've said"—then it would come off as arrogant or ickily self-promotional. But having someone else write it allows the author to praise the ideas without the same stigma.
I don't know whether it was intentional or not, but it's interesting how well the content comes across when the base idea ("writing about smart things our partner was right about") is the type of marketing companies/VCs _want_ to actually say but social norms prevent.
The article itself is an example of the advice within the article. A "good idea that people think is a bad idea."
- firasd 8y agoThe author Tren Griffin has many articles like this on his website, it's his 'genre'. Not sure if this was just cross-posted or newly written: https://25iq.com/featured-individuals/ https://25iq.com/featured-individuals/
- EGreg 8y agoThis is a very good technique, which we point out in our video to investors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJfEffq0Yig#t=6m40s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJfEffq0Yig#t=6m40s
- vertline3 8y agoInteresting video, It's used by confidence men. The term I think is a shill. Posing as a satisfied customer.
- cududa 8y agoWhile it looks like it’s content marketing at first glance, this is a regular theme Trenn uses. He runs a wonderful blog called 25iq. He’s been privelaged enough to work alongside the best and have access to the best, and he takes a lot of time sharing the meta-insight. He structures a lot of his thinking in the same way as Charlie Munger. I’d recommend any entrepreneur read as much of his writing as you have time for!
- thesausageking 8y agoIt's completely intentional. a16z is fantastic at marketing, PR, and brand building. In less than a decade, while generating very unimpressive returns for LPs, they've built one of the strong VC brands in the world. They're phenomenal at it. They do it so well that they make it look easy, but it's not at all.
- QML 8y agoWhat’s their return rate compared to an index like the S&P500?
- beambot 8y agoVCs occupy a completely different part of the risk-reward spectrum.... so I'm not sure that's an apples-to-apples comparison regardless.
- keithwhor 8y agoThis is, without a doubt, the boldest and most impressive backhanded compliment I've ever read on HN. I have no idea what A16Z's returns for their LPs are across their funds, but this could literally be right out of a movie script. **SCENE** GENERAL PARTNER is chatting with potential LIMITED PARTNER over cocktails. LP: The fund you're raising... the thesis, it's... interesting. You've done a great job with your last three funds. But I've read similar things from Andreessen's team that make me think they have a better grasp of the space - wouldn't my money be better invested with them? GP smirks and calmly reaches towards MARTINI GLASS, casually picking the toothpick, olive still attached, between her thumb and index fingers. She places the olive between her teeth to the side of her mouth, grasps, and pulls the olive off the toothpick in one swift motion. She carefully places the toothpick in a napkin, stares LP in the eye, and pauses just a moment before aggressively biting down. She finishes chewing without breaking eye contact. GP: Ah. Yes, they do market themselves as visionaries. It's completely intentional. They're fantastic at marketing, PR, and brand building. In less than a decade, while generating very unimpressive returns, they've built one of the strongest VC brands in the world. They're phenomenal at it. They do it so well that they make it look easy, but it's not at all. LP: So if I'd like to make money... GP: You got it. How much are you in for?